Apparatus for packaging non-contact printed comestible products

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for packaging a non-contact printed edible substrate as well as the resultant packaged product. The packaging apparatus may include a non-contact printer, a carrier, and a package located at a discharge position. The carrier may be constructed and arranged to transport the edible substrate from the print position to the package and orient same in the package so that the printed ink indicia is visible through at least a portion of a panel of the package. At a print position, the non-contact printer is constructed and arranged to apply an edible ink indicia to an edible substrate. The packaging apparatus may form a packaged product having a plurality of compartments where at least one compartment at least partially defined by a panel. The interior of the compartment contains at least one edible substrate comprising a surface and a printed edible ink indicia on the surface so that the ink indicia is visible through at least a portion of the panel.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/875,545 filed on Oct. 19, 2007, now granted U.S. Pat. No.7,797,909 issued Sep. 21, 2010, which claims priority from U.S.Provisional Patent Application 60/862,148 filed on Oct. 19, 2006; theentire contents of each of these applications are incorporated herein byreference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

In the confectionery and chewing gum arts, continual efforts aredirected toward producing ever-more appealing candy and chewing gumproducts to promote marketability. Traditional approaches aimed atincreasing product appeal have included product reformulations as wellas product repackaging. Such modifications, however, entail majorundertakings that require great expenditures of time, money, and effort.Product reformulations, for example, require funding for research anddevelopment, highly skilled research personnel, and long periods of timefor product testing. Product repackaging requires design creativity, aswell as time and effort to re-tool complicated packaging equipment.

A need therefore exists for a simple, quick, and cost-effectiveapparatus and method, readily adaptable to high speed and large-scaleprocessing equipment that may enhance conventional confectionery andchewing gum products to increase product appeal. A need further existsfor marketing and advertising techniques that introduce comestibleproducts into new market segments and thereby increase consumerawareness of comestible products.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides packaged product, apparatuses, andmethods of comestibles with improved consumer appeal. In particular,non-contact printing of edible materials onto edible substrates isutilized to create multi-sensory enhancements to comestible products.The comestible products of the present disclosure provide a visuallyattractive product that brings added excitement and enjoyment to productconsumption.

In an embodiment, a packaged product is provided. The packaged productincludes a package having a plurality of compartments. At least onecompartment is at least partially defined by a panel. The productfurther includes an interior of the compartment that contains at leastone edible substrate including a surface. An online-printed edible inkindicia is on the surface so that the ink indicia is visible through atleast a portion of the panel. Alternatively, the package may include aseal where the ink indicia is distal from the seal.

In an embodiment, the edible substrate has a uniform orientation withrespect to at least one edible substrate in the package. The uniformorientation of the edible substrate may include, for example, anidentical configuration, an opposite configuration, a portion of amultiple edible substrate design, a portion of a design encompassing allthe edible substrates of the packaged product, or combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the interior of every compartment contains at leastone edible substrate including a surface and a printed edible inkindicia on the surface so that the ink indicia is visible through atleast a portion of the panel.

In an embodiment, the printed edible ink indicia is a non-contactprinted edible ink indicia. In a further embodiment, the ink indiciacontacts an inner surface of the panel with substantially none of theink indicia adhering to the inner surface.

In an embodiment, the product further includes a second edible inkindicia on a surface of the edible substrate. Further, the edible inkindicia may be on a first surface of the edible substrate and the secondedible ink indicia may be on a second surface of the edible substrate.

In another embodiment, at least one compartment contains at least twoedible substrates such that the ink indicia of each edible substrate isvisible through at least one portion of the panel.

The edible substrate may take different forms including, for example, aconfectionery product, a center-filled product, a coated ediblesubstrate, an uncoated edible substrate, an edible substrate having acurved surface contour, a chewing gum stick, a chewing gum pellet, orcombinations thereof. Alternatively, the edible substrate is a coatedchewing gum pellet.

The edible ink indicia may also take different forms including, forexample, a multicolored ink indicia. The edible ink indicia may furtherinclude, for example, a word, an image, a color, a symbol, an object, analpha-numeric representation, a letter, text, a shape, a fanciful shape,a symbol, a logo, a graphic, an advertising indicia, or combinationsthereof.

In an embodiment, a packaged product is provided. The packaged productincludes a package having a plurality of compartments. In theembodiment, each compartment is at least partially defined by a panel.Moreover, an interior of each compartment contains at least one ediblesubstrate including a surface. Each substrate also includes a printededible ink indicia and an organoleptic component on the surface so thatthe ink indicia is visible through at least one portion of a panel. Theedible substrate may also have uniform orientation with respect to anadjacent edible substrate.

In an embodiment, the product further includes an organoleptic componentcorresponding to a feature of the edible ink indicia. The feature mayinclude, for example, a word, an image, a color, a symbol, an object, analpha-numeric representation, a letter, text, a shape, a fanciful shape,a symbol, a logo, a graphic, an advertising indicia, an indentation, aprotrusion, or combinations thereof.

In another embodiment, the organoleptic component may be a component ofthe edible ink indicia. The organoleptic component may include, forexample, a flavoring agent, a cooling agent, a heating agent, amouthfeel agent, a tingling agent, a sweetening agent, a souring agent,a bittering agent, a teeth whitening agent, a breath freshening agent,an anti-cavity agent, an audible agent, or combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, a packaged product is provided. The packaged productincludes a package having a plurality of compartments with eachcompartment at least partially defined by a panel. Moreover, an interiorof each compartment contains at least one edible substrate including asurface. Each substrate also includes a printed edible ink indicia onthe surface so that the ink indicia is visible through at least oneportion of a panel. In this embodiment, the edible substrate has auniform orientation with respect to an adjacent edible substrate.

In an embodiment, a packaged product is provided. The packaged productincludes a package having a plurality of compartments with eachcompartment at least partially defined by a panel. Each compartment alsocontains at least one edible substrate including a surface. In thisembodiment, the edible substrate has a plurality of printed edible inkindicia on the surface and at least one edible ink indicia visiblethrough at least a portion of the panel.

In an embodiment, a packaged product is provided. The packaged productincludes a package having a plurality of compartments with eachcompartment at least partially defined by a panel. Each compartment alsocontains at least one edible substrate comprising at least a first andsecond surface. The edible substrate includes a first printed edible inkindicia on the first surface and a second printed edible ink indicia onthe second surface. In this embodiment, at least one edible ink indiciais visible through at least a portion of the panel.

In another embodiment, the edible substrate has uniform orientation withrespect to an adjacent edible substrate. Alternatively, the firstsurface of the edible substrate has uniform orientation with respect tothe second surface of the edible substrate.

In an embodiment, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes anon-contact printer so constructed and arranged to apply an edible inkindicia to an edible substrate. The printer is located at a printposition. Further, a package is located at a discharge position. Theembodiment also includes a carrier so constructed and arranged totransport the edible substrate from the print position to the packageand orient the edible substrate in the package so that the printed inkindicia is visible through at least a portion of a panel of the package.The carrier may be a continuous conveyor or a rotatable drum. In anotherembodiment, the edible substrate may be a coated edible substrate, anuncoated edible substrate, an edible substrate having a curved surfacecontour, or combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the carrier includes a plurality of pockets, eachpocket constructed to house an edible substrate. Further, the apparatusmay include a feeder in operative communication with the carrier, thefeeder delivering an edible substrate to each pocket. The feeder mayfurther include an alignment device such as, for example, a vibrationtray, a brush, or combinations thereof. Alternatively, the apparatusincludes a guide proximate to the carrier, the guide maintaining theedible substrates in the pockets until the edible substrates reach thedischarge position.

In an embodiment, the package includes a plurality of compartments.Further, the ink indicia of the edible substrate may be visible througha panel of each compartment.

In an embodiment, each pocket includes an orifice in operativecommunication with a pressurizer. The pressurizer applies a positivepressure to eject the edible substrate from the pocket when the ediblesubstrate is at the discharge position.

In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a transporter that movesthe compartments to a load position where the edible substrates movefrom the compartments to respective pockets at the load position.Further, each pocket may include an orifice in operative communicationwith a retainer where the retainer applies a negative pressure to liftthe edible substrates from the compartments and into respective pockets.

In an embodiment, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes afirst non-contact printer so constructed and arranged to apply a firstedible ink indicia to an edible substrate. The first non-contact printeris located at a first print position. Further, a package is located at adischarge position. The apparatus also includes a first carrier soconstructed and arranged to transport the edible substrate from thefirst print position to the package and orient the edible substrate inthe package so that the first ink indicia is visible through at least aportion of a panel of the package. The apparatus also includes a secondprinter so constructed and arranged to apply a second edible ink indiciato the edible substrate. The second printer is located at a second printposition. Finally, the apparatus includes a second carrier soconstructed and arranged to transport the package containing the ediblesubstrate to the second print position.

In another embodiment, the first non-contact printer is arranged toapply the first edible ink indicia on a first surface of the ediblesubstrate and the second printer is arranged to apply the second edibleink indicia on a second surface of the edible substrate. Moreover, thefirst non-contact printer may be in operative communication with thesecond printer.

In an embodiment, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes afeeder that receives a plurality of edible substrates. Each ediblesubstrate has at least one side, with an ink indicia on a side of theedible substrate. The apparatus includes a carrier that is in operativecommunication with the feeder and has a plurality of pockets. A detectoris located proximate to the carrier and may be adapted to detect amisoriented edible substrate in at least one of the pockets of thecarrier. The apparatus further includes a controller that is inoperative communication with the detector and an extractor. In thisembodiment, the extractor is adapted to remove the misoriented ediblesubstrate from the pocket.

In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a package having a plurality ofcompartments. The package is located at a first discharge position. Inthis embodiment, the carrier is constructed and arranged to dischargethe edible substrates into a respective compartment of the package atthe first discharge position. Further, the ink indicia for each ediblesubstrate is visible through a panel of the compartment.

In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a second carrier constructedand arranged to move the edible substrates in the package to a printposition. The printer may be arranged to print a second ink indicia on asecond side of each edible substrate at the print position.

In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a recycle device inoperative communication with the extractor. In this embodiment, therecycle device is adapted to deliver the misoriented edible substrate toa second discharge position. Further, the apparatus may include apackage located at the second discharge position, the packageconstructed and arranged to receive the misoriented edible substrate ina compartment of the package so that the ink indicia of the ediblesubstrate is visible through a panel, of the compartment and the ediblesubstrate is no longer misoriented.

In an embodiment, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes afeeder receiving a plurality of edible substrates. Each edible substratehas at least one side with each edible substrate having an ink indiciaon a side of the edible substrate. The apparatus includes a drum inoperative communication with the feeder. The drum has a plurality ofpockets on an outer circumferential surface thereof and the drum isadapted to rotate to a discharge position. The apparatus also includes adetector proximate to the drum outer circumferential surface. Thedetector is adapted to detect a misoriented edible substrate in at leastone of the pockets of the drum. The apparatus further includes acontroller in operative communication with the detector and a retainer,where the retainer is adapted to selectively retain the misorientededible substrate in the pocket at the discharge position.

In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a package that has a pluralityof compartments located at the discharge position. In this embodiment,the drum is adapted to discharge each edible substrate to a respectivecompartment so that the ink indicia for each edible substrate is visiblethrough a panel of the compartment. The apparatus may further include asensor at the discharge position. The sensor may be in operativecommunication with the controller and may be adapted to detect an emptycompartment in the package at the discharge position.

In an alternative embodiment, the drum is adapted to move to a recycleposition and the retainer is adapted to release the misoriented ediblesubstrate into a recycle device.

In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a printer proximate to thepackage. In this embodiment, the printer is constructed and arranged toprint a second edible ink indicia on each edible substrate in acompartment.

In an embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes non-contactprinting an edible ink indicia on a plurality of edible substrates. Atleast one edible substrate is placed in each of a plurality ofcompartments of a package so that the ink indicia is visible through atleast a portion of a panel of each respective compartment, eachcompartment being at least partially defined by the panel. The methodmay further include flipping the edible substrate and contacting the inkindicia with an inner surface of the front panel. The method may alsoinclude sealing the package with a seal.

In an embodiment, at least one edible substrate is placed in each of theplurality of compartments of the package from about 0.1 seconds to about60 seconds after the non-contact printing. Moreover, the method mayinclude drying the ink indicia before the placing.

In another embodiment, the method further includes printing a second inkindicia on the edible substrate. The edible ink indicia may be on afirst surface of the edible substrate and the second ink indicia may beon a second surface of the edible substrate.

In an embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes housing aplurality of edible substrates on an outer surface of a drum. The drumis rotated to move the edible substrates to a print position. The methodalso includes non-contact printing an edible ink indicia on each ediblesubstrate when each edible substrate is at the print position andplacing at least one edible substrate in each of a plurality ofcompartments of a package so that the ink indicia is visible through atleast one portion of a panel of each compartment.

In an embodiment, the method includes placing the package at a dischargeposition below the rotatable drum, rotating the drum to move the ediblesubstrates to the discharge position, and moving the edible substratesfrom the drum into respective compartments. The method may furtherinclude continuously feeding the edible substrates to a plurality ofpockets located on the outer surface of the drum.

In another embodiment, each compartment contains an edible substrate.The method further includes transporting the compartments to a loadposition proximate to the drum and transferring each edible substratefrom the compartment to a respective pocket located on an outer surfaceof the drum.

In an embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes feeding aplurality of edible substrates onto a carrier where each ediblesubstrate has at least one side and an edible ink indicia is on a singleside of the edible substrate. The method further includes deliveringwith the carrier the edible substrates to a discharge position,detecting the presence of a misoriented edible substrate on the carrier,and removing the misoriented edible substrate from the carrier beforedelivering the edible substrates to a package located at the dischargeposition.

In another embodiment, the package comprises a plurality ofcompartments. The method further includes moving, at the dischargeposition, each edible substrate from the carrier into a respectivecompartment, the ink indicia of each edible substrate visible throughthe panel. The method may also include printing a second edible inkindicia on a second side of each edible substrate in a compartment.

In an embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes feeding aplurality of edible substrates onto an outer surface of a rotatable drumthat can support the edible substrates on the outer surface. Each ediblesubstrate has more than one side and each edible substrate has an edibleink indicia on a side thereof. The method also includes detecting thepresence of a misoriented edible substrate on the drum outer surface.Further, the method includes moving, with the rotatable drum, the ediblesubstrates to a discharge position and retaining the misoriented ediblesubstrate on the drum outer surface at the discharge position.

In an embodiment, a package having a plurality of compartments islocated at the discharge position and each compartment is at leastpartially defined by a panel. The method further includes moving, at thedischarge position, each edible substrate other than the misorientededible substrates from the rotatable device into a respectivecompartment so that at least one portion of the ink indicia is visiblethrough the panel. The method may also include printing a second inkindicia on a second surface of each edible substrate in a compartment.

In another embodiment, the method further includes moving, with therotatable drum, the misoriented edible substrate to a recycle positionand releasing the misoriented edible substrate into a recycle device.

In an embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes feeding aplurality of edible substrates onto a first carrier, delivering with thefirst carrier the edible substrates to a first print position, andnon-contact printing a first edible ink indicia on the ediblesubstrates. The method further includes placing with the first carrierthe edible substrates into a package so that the ink indicia is visiblethrough at least one portion of a panel of the package. The method alsoincludes transporting with a second carrier the edible substrates in thepackage to a second print position and printing a second edible inkindicia on the edible substrates.

In an embodiment, the first carrier comprises a plurality of pockets,the first carrier delivering the edible substrates to a first printposition with each pocket housing a respective edible substrate.

In an embodiment, the package further comprises a plurality ofcompartments, the method further comprising discharging at least oneedible substrate into each compartment.

In another embodiment, the first edible ink indicia is on a firstsurface of the edible substrate and the second ink indicia is on asecond surface of the edible substrate.

It is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide an improvedpackaged product with an edible substrate having an ink indicia, the inkindicia viewable by a consumer through the package.

It is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide a package havingan edible substrate in each compartment, the non-contact printed edibleink indicia of each edible substrate being visible through a panel ofeach respective compartment.

It is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide a packagedproduct with increased consumer appeal.

It is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide a packagedproduct with a plurality of edible substrates that have uniformorientation with respect to each other.

It is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide a packagedproduct that has multiple printed ink indicia on a single surface ormultiple surfaces.

It is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide an apparatuswith improved control of the orientation of an edible substrate in apackage.

It is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide an apparatusthat places edible substrates into a package so that the ink indicia ofeach edible substrate is viewable by a consumer through the package.

It is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide an apparatusthat reduces the amount of handling of ink indicia imprinted ediblesubstrates.

It is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide an apparatusthat reduces or eliminates the risk of smudging ink indicia printed onedible substrates.

It is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide an apparatusthat can detect and recycle misoriented finished product beforepackaging the product.

It is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide a method forproducing a packaged product with increased consumer appeal.

It is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide a method fordetecting and recycling misoriented finished product before packagingthe product.

It is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide a method fornon-contact printing ink indicia on a blank packaged product or aprinted packaged product.

It is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide a method forproducing a packaged product that includes a plurality of ediblesubstrates that have uniform orientation with respect to each other.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from, the following Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer in accordance with the anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a packaged product in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a packaged product in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a packaged product in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a packaged product in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a packaged product in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the printer printing on an ediblesubstrate in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the printer printing on an ediblesubstrate in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a packaging apparatus inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is an elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of a packaging apparatus inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation view of area 21 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of a packaging apparatus inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of a packaged product inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of a packaged product inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of a packaged product inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a packaged product in accordance withan embodiment of the present disclosure

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a packaged product in accordance withan embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a packaging apparatus in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of an extractor ofFIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along direction arrow V of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary perspective view of a packaging apparatus inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 23 is an enlarged elevation view of area EE of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged elevation view of area II of FIG. 22.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the Figures generally, where like reference numerals denotelike structure and elements, and in particular to FIG. 1, a perspectiveview of a printer 32 for printing on an edible substrate is shown. Itshould be understood that an “edible” product or “edible” substrate is acomposition that is suitable for consumption and is non-toxic. An ediblesubstrate may also be a material that complies with applicable standardssuch as food, drug, cosmetic (FD&C) regulations in the United Statesand/or Eurocontrol experimental center (E.E.C.) standards in theEuslaban Union. Non-limiting examples of suitable edible substratesinclude confectionery materials, pasta, extruded snacks such as crackersand snack chips, marshmallows, pastries, pet food, cereals, sausage, andcheese.

In an embodiment, the edible substrate may be a coated edible substrate,an uncoated edible substrate, an edible substrate having a curvedsurface contour, a chewing gum stick, a chewing gum pellet, orcombinations thereof. Moreover, the edible substrate may be a coatedchewing gum pellet.

The edible substrate may also be a confectionery product. Theconfectionery product may be any hard candy, soft candy, chewing gum, orother confectionery substance, or compound that has a fluid phase or maytake a flowable form. In other words, the confectionery material may beany material that may be heated, melted, dissolved melted, form a syrup,or be dissolved in a liquid to become flowable as is commonly known inthe art. The skilled artisan will appreciate that the moisture content(and concomitant viscosity) of the confectionery material may varygreatly. The moisture content of the flowable phase of the confectionerysubstrate may typically be in the range of about 0.5% to about 20% byweight of the confectionery material. The flowable confectionerymaterial may be subsequently cooled or solidified at room temperature toform a solid or semi-solid confectionery. Non-limiting examples ofsuitable confectionery materials that are flowable or may be placed intoa flowable state include syrups, liquids or solids for making hardcandies, soft candies, lollipops, fondants, toffees, jellies, chewinggums, chocolates, gelatins and nougats. The confectionery material mayinclude sugar or may be sugar-free. Coloring may be added to theconfectionery substrate as desired. The confectionery material may alsoinclude a pharmaceutical product or a medicament.

In an embodiment, the edible substrate may be a center-filled product.Non-limiting examples of suitable center fill materials include anyliquid, syrup, paste, colloid, or solid edible material such as boiledcandy, hard candy, soft candy, toffee, jelly, syrup, paste, chewing gum,bubble gum, chocolate, gelatin, caramel, taffy, nougat, granular candy,and combinations thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 32 may be an ink jet printer. Ink jetprinters typically entail a print head in fluid communication with oneor more ink reservoirs, the print head adapted for ink-jettableprinting. In ink jet printing, the print head ejects or otherwise “jets”fine droplets of ink from the reservoir onto a receiving substrate. Itis understood that printer 32 may be configured to dispense or jet inkcompositions or other fluids therefrom. Indeed, any jettable fluid maybe dispensed from printer 32. A “jettable” fluid or material may be anymaterial (solid or liquid) that has properties sufficient to allow thematerial to be selectively deposited by an ink jet material dispenser asis commonly known in the art. Ink jet printing is advantageous,particularly with respect to comestibles as it provides 1) highresolution printing and 2) non-contact with the comestible therebyavoiding the risk of damage to the comestible item. Non-limitingexamples of suitable non-contact printers include ink jet printingsystems such as thermally actuated ink jet dispensers, mechanicallyactuated ink jet dispensers, electrostatically actuated ink jetdispensers, magnetically actuated ink jet dispensers, continuous ink jetprinters, drop-on-demand (also called “impulse”) ink jet printers, andacoustic ink jet systems.

In continuous inkjet systems, ink is emitted in a continuous streamunder pressure through at least one nozzle. The stream is broken up intodroplets by applying vibration or pressure pulses to the ink. This canbe achieved by vibrating the nozzle or the nozzle assembly by means of apiezoelectric crystal, or by immersing a vibration probe, for example apiezoelectric crystal rod, in the ink itself. Typically, the inkdroplets in continuous ink-jet systems are formed by a piezoelectriccrystal, which is vibrated at controlled frequency adjacent to the inkstream. To control the flow of ink droplets, the ink is charged byapplying a voltage between the ink jet before it breaks up into dropletsand a charge electrode, so that each droplet carries a known charge. Thecharged droplets then pass through a deflection electric field wherethey are deflected from their straight line of flight by the deflectionfield applied. The extent of deflection will determine the point atwhich the droplets strike a substrate passing the printer and the chargeand/or deflection fields are varied to direct the droplets to thedesired location on the substrate. Droplets which are not to be printedare not deflected but are caught in a catcher or gutter and are returnedto the ink reservoir for re-use.

Drop-on-demand jet systems include piezojet and bubblejet (sometimesreferred to as thermal ink-jet) systems. In bubblejet systems, a bubbleis formed by a resistance heater in an ink reservoir. The resultingpressure wave from the bubble forces ink through the orifice plate, andas the heat is removed, the bubble begins to collapse and a droplet isejected. Alternatively, the drop-on-demand system may form discretedroplets of ink which are ejected from an array of nozzles past whichthe substrate passes, the nozzles being activated at the desiredfrequency and in the desired order to form the desired image on thesubstrate. Thus, the printer may be one in which ink under pressureflows to the nozzles via valving means which are actuated under thecontrol of a computer or the like to allow ink to flow to the requirednozzle to eject a droplet from that nozzle.

In acoustic ink jet printing, one or more acoustic beams emanating fromone or more acoustic radiators for illuminating the free surface of apool of liquid ink with respective acoustic beams. Each of these beamsusually is brought to focus at or near the surface of the reservoir(i.e., the liquid/air interface). Furthermore, printing conventionallyis performed by independently modulating the excitation of the acousticradiators in accordance with the input data samples for the image thatis to be printed. This modulation enables the radiation pressure whicheach of the beams exerts against the free ink surface to make brief,controlled excursions to a sufficiently high pressure level forovercoming the restraining force of surface tension. That, in turn,causes individual droplets of ink to be ejected from the free inksurface on demand at an adequate velocity to cause them to deposit in animage configuration on a nearby recording medium. The acoustic beam maybe intensity modulated or focused/defocused to control the ejectiontiming, or an external source may be used to extract droplets from theacoustically excited liquid on the surface of the pool on demand.Regardless of the timing mechanism employed, the size of the ejecteddroplets is determined by the waist diameter of the focused acousticbeam. Acoustic ink printing is attractive because it does not requiresmall nozzles or small ejection orifices. The size of the ejectionorifice is an important design parameter of an ink jet because itdetermines the size of the droplets of ink that the jet ejects. Acousticprinting has increased intrinsic reliability because there are nonozzles to clog. As will be appreciated, the elimination of the cloggednozzle failure mode is especially relevant to the reliability of largearrays of ink ejectors, such as arrays comprising several thousandseparate ejectors. Furthermore, small ejection orifices are avoided, soacoustic printing can be performed with a large variety of inks,including inks having higher viscosities and inks containing pigmentsand other particulate components.

Printer 32 may include one or more jetting heads 34 in fluidcommunication with one or more reservoirs 36 by way of channel 35 asshown in FIG. 1A. In an embodiment, reservoirs 36 may contain inkcomponents so that printer may deliver an ink or ink composition to thecontinuous slab, the individual pieces, or the coated pieces. In anembodiment, printer 32 may be configured with four reservoirs, eachreservoir containing edible ink compositions in typical colors such ascyan, magenta, yellow, and black or white in order to provide multiplecolor images. Printer 32 may be configured with more or less reservoirsfor more or less colors as desired. Each jetting head 34 may include oneor more nozzles as is commonly known in the art. For example jettinghead 34 may include from 1 to 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000, or 5,000 or moreindividual nozzles or jets. Each jetting head 34 may be in fluidcommunication with one or more fluid reservoirs 36. Jetting heads 34 maybe arranged in any desired manner to deliver an ink composition ontocontinuous slab 14, 14 a, pieces 24 and/or coated pieces 24 a. Forexample, jetting heads 34 may be arranged in a single line.Alternatively, jetting heads 34 may be arranged in a series of lines toform a matrix-type printing profile.

The ink composition of the present disclosure may be any water-based,solvent-based, hot-melt, pigment-containing, or non-pigment containingedible ink as is commonly known in the art.

A water-based ink may be considered ink that contains more water thannon-aqueous solvent. Water-based inks typically include water, apigment, a dispersant (such as a polyol) for the pigment, and maycontain one or more non-aqueous solvents (such as one or more alcohols)and a dye. In an embodiment, the ink composition may be a water-basedpigmented ink having about 30% to about 85% by weight water, a pigmentin an amount from about 3% to about 45% by weight of the ink, adispersant, such as glycerine, polypropylene glycol, or polyethyleneglycol in an amount from about 1.0% to about 50% by weight. In anembodiment, the water-based pigmented inks may contain one or more dyesin an amount from about 100 ppm to about 2% by weight.

A solvent-based ink composition may be considered an ink compositionhaving more non-aqueous solvent than water. Solvent-based inkcompositions may be either pigmented or non-pigmented and may be fat- oroil-based. In an embodiment, the solvent-based ink composition may bepigmented and have a non-aqueous solvent such as glycerine,polypropylene glycol, or polyethylene glycol present in a range fromabout 15% to about 80% by weight, water present in a range from about 1%to about 20% by weight, and pigment present in an amount from about 5%to about 50% by weight.

A hot-melt ink may include a dye dispersed or dissolved in a fat, wax,or oil. The wax may include any food grade wax, including suchnon-limiting examples as microcrystalline wax, paraffin, and natural orsynthetic wax. In a further embodiment, the hot-melt edible ink mayinclude from about 3% to about 6% by weight of an edible dye, from about10% to about 20% by weight of hydrogenated resins, and from about 74% toabout 87% by weight of a wax such as candela wax, carnauba wax,microcrystalline wax, and combinations thereof.

The edible ink composition may contain a food grade dye or lake whereinspecified amounts of the dye/lake may be ingested by a human withoutgenerally causing deleterious health effects. Examples of food gradecompounds include those compounds “generally recognized as safe”(“GRAS”) by the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) andcolorants approved by the FDA for use in foods for human consumption.The food grade dyes used to produce the colored fluids may includesynthetic dyes, natural dyes, or combinations thereof. As used herein,the term “dye” denotes dyes which are soluble in water and/or in theother cosolvents, which contain substantial amounts of glycols and/orglycerine, employed in the present colored fluids. Non-limiting examplesof suitable synthetic dyes include food grade Pontamine, Food Black 2,FD&C-Red #3, FD&C-Red #33, FD&C-Red #40, FD&C-Blue #1, FD&C-Blue #2,FD&C-Yellow #10, FD&C-Yellow #5, FD&C-Yellow #6, and FD&C-Green #3. FD&Cdyes that may be used include Red No. 3 (Erythrosine), Red No. 40(Allura Red), Yellow No. 6 (Sunset Yel. FCF), Yellow No. 5 (Tartrazine),Green No. 3 (Fast Green FCF), Blue No. 1 (Brilliant Blue FCF), Blue No.2 (Indigotine), and mixtures thereof. Suitable natural dyes includeturmeric oleoresins, cochineal extracts, gardenia extracts, and naturalcolors derived from vegetable juices. Other non-limiting examples ofsuitable natural dyes include beet extract, grape skin extract, andchlorophyll containing extracts (e.g. nettle extract, alfalfa extractand spinach extract). To achieve a desired color tint or shade, thecolored liquids may include mixtures of more than one synthetic and/ornatural food grade dye. In a typical embodiment, the colored fluidscontain about 0.1 to 10 wt. % food grade dye on a dissolved solidsbasis.

The ink composition may include additives such as flavorings,preservatives, antifoam agents, micronutrients, dispersion stabilizers,film formers, binders, a surface tension modifier, a thickening agent,an antioxidant, a preservative, a buffering agent, and/or anantimicrobial agent as commonly known in the art. The ink compositionmay also include adhesion enhancers such as a surfactant or a filmforming resin. The surfactant may be cationic, anionic, or amphotericand may include such non-limiting examples as polyglycerol oleate,monostearate, polysorbate, mono and diglyceride, and phospholipids suchas lecithin. Non-limiting examples of suitable film forming resins mayinclude such edible resins as acrylic co-polymers, rosin esters,shellac, polyvinyl esters, ketone resins, urea aldehyde resins, vinylchloride/vinyl ether or vinyl acetate co-polymers, cellulose ethers andesters, polyamide resins, styrene/maleate resins, polyvinylpyrrolidoneresins, vinyl pyrrolidone/vinyl acetate co-polymers, polystyrene resins,melamine resins, thermosetting acrylic resins, polyurethane resins andradiation curable acrylate resins. The ink composition may also includean organoleptic component and/or an active agent as will be described indetail below.

It is understood that the ink composition may be compatible with theprinter so as not to damage the jetting head components or causeinconsistent firing of jets. The ink composition may also be compatiblewith the edible substrate to provide a high-resolution ink indicia thatadheres to the edible substrate surface. For example, the ink mayinclude an adhesion enhancer, such as a wax, to promote adhesion withthe coating surface of a coated comestible. Further, the ink may be asolid or in a solid state at ambient temperature.

In an embodiment, printer 32 shown in FIG. 1 may be positioned anywherebefore, after, or upon a packaging apparatus as desired. Printer 32 mayalso be arranged so as to print on an edible substrate while online.

It should be understood that an “online” printed ink indicia is an inkindicia printed on an edible substrate while the edible substrate isbeing packaged or after packaging. As will be described herein, onlineprinting of edible ink indicia onto an edible substrate advantageouslyallows for consistent control of an edible substrate configuration in apackage. For example, online printing allows for a plurality of ediblesubstrates in a package to each have ink indicia that uniformly face thesame direction, such that no misoriented edible substrates are containedin the package. Moreover, online printing allows a user flexibility topurposely orient a plurality of edible substrates in any desirablefashion in a package so as to impart a multitude of designs when viewedby a consumer.

In all embodiments of the present disclosure, edible ink indicia may beonline printed on an edible substrate.

As herein described, the contents of ink composition and/or the printer32 may be modified as necessary depending on the placement of theprinter 32 with regard to the packaging apparatus.

In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, a packaged product 40 isprovided that includes a plurality of compartments 44 with eachcompartment 44 containing an edible substrate 42. An edible ink indicia42A is printed on the surface of each edible substrate 42, with the inkindicia 42A visible through at least portion of a panel 46 that at leastpartially defines a respective compartment 44. Further, the ink indicia42A may contact an inner surface of the panel with substantially none ofthe ink indicia 42A adhering to the inner surface.

In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15, at least onecompartment 426 contains at least two edible substrates, the ink indicia420 of each edible substrate visible through at least one portion of thepanel 430.

In an embodiment, edible substrate 42 may be any edible comestible,material, or substrate as previously discussed herein. Edible substrate42 may have planar surfaces, non-planar surfaces, or a combination ofplanar and non-planar surfaces. Edible substrate 42 may have a flat, acurved, a wavy, a convex (i.e., pellet, tablet, or bean-shaped), or aconcave surface contour. Moreover, edible substrate 42 may be a coated,uncoated, a chewing gum stick, a coated or uncoated chewing gum pellet,or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, edible substrate 42 may be aconfectionery product as described above.

Ink indicia 42A may be any single color or multiple color edible ink orink composition as discussed herein. 42A Moreover, ink indicia 42A maydepict any symbol, object, alpha-numeric representation, letter, word,text, shape, fanciful shape, image, graphic, color, advertising indicia,or combination thereof as desired. Non-limiting examples of suitable inkindicia include images, photographs or pictures of people, characters,scenes, or landscapes; advertising indicia such as brand names, tradenames, logos, trademarks, text slogans; a processing code such as a barcode; words; objects; or any combination thereof. In an embodiment, inkindicia 42A may be an inkjet-indicia. Moreover, ink indicia 42A may benon-contact printed on edible substrate 42.

In an alternative embodiment, edible substrate 42 may include a firstand second edible ink indicia on a surface of the edible substrate 42.Further, ink indicia 42A may include a plurality of ink indicia on thesurface of the edible substrate 42. Even further, as will be discussedlater with reference to FIG. 17, the first edible ink indicia may be ona first surface of the edible substrate 42 and the second edible inkindicia may be on a second surface of the edible substrate 42.

The packaged product 40 may also include an organoleptic component thatcorresponds to a feature. In other words, the organoleptic component maybe any sensory component that may be associated with, or coordinatedwith, the feature. In particular, the organoleptic component may be anysensory-perceived component that typically accompanies, is associatedwith, complements, emphasizes, accentuates, highlights, matches, relatesto, is in accord with, links with, or is connected to a feature.Non-limiting examples of suitable features include a word, an image, acolor, a symbol, an object, an alpha-numeric representation, a letter,text, a shape, a fanciful shape, a symbol, a logo, a graphic, anadvertising indicia, an indentation, a protrusion, and combinationsthereof.

The organoleptic component may be any component that is perceptible bythe senses. The organoleptic component may also be a component of theedible ink indicia. The organoleptic component may be any component thatmay be perceived or detected visually, by touch (i.e., by hand, tongue,or mouthfeel), audibly (sound), taste, and/or by smell (aromatic).Non-limiting examples of suitable organoleptic components include aflavoring agent, a cooling agent, a heating agent, a mouthfeel agent (acomponent with a rough, fizz, or particulate texture), a tingling agent(Jambu extract, Vanillyl alkyl ethers, Vanillyl n-butyl ether,spilanthol, Echinacea extract, Northern Prickly Ash extract, capsaicin,capsicum oleoresin, red pepper oleoresin, black pepper oleoresin,piperine, ginger oleoresin, gingerol, shoagol, cinnamon oleoresin,cassia oleoresin, cinnamic aldehyde, eugenol, cyclic acetal of vanillin,menthol glycerin ether, unsaturated amides and combinations thereof), asweetening agent, a souring agent, a bittering agent, a teeth whiteningagent, an anti-cavity agent, a breath freshening agent, an audible agent(a cracking, fizzing, or popping component), and combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, printer 32 may be used to form package 40 thatincludes adjacent edible substrates 42 having a uniform configuration asshown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, adjacent edible substrates 42 havean identical configuration such that the printed edible ink indicia 42Aof each edible substrate 42 appear identical to each other when viewedby a consumer. Further, each edible substrate 42 of a package 40 canhave an identical configuration with respect to every edible substratein the package 40. As discussed in detail below, uniform configurationmay include, for example, an identical configuration, an oppositeconfiguration, a portion of a multiple edible substrate design, aportion of a design encompassing all the edible substrates of thepackaged product, or combinations thereof. Moreover, a uniformconfiguration may also include a first surface of the edible substratehaving uniform orientation with respect to a second surface of theedible substrate.

In an embodiment, printer 32 may be used to form package 50 thatincludes edible substrate 52 having an opposite configuration withrespect to adjacent edible substrates 54, as shown in FIG. 3. In thisembodiment, adjacent edible substrates 52 and 54 have an identicalconfiguration such that the printed edible ink indicia 52A of ediblesubstrate 52 appears to be a mirror image of the printed edible inkindicia 54A of edible substrates 54.

In an embodiment, printer 32 may be used to form package 60 thatincludes an edible substrate column 62 having an identical configurationwith respect to adjacent edible substrate column 64, as shown in FIG. 4.In this embodiment, edible substrates 62A, 62B, 62C, 62D, 62E and 62Feach include a respective printed edible ink indicia 63A, 63B, 63C, 63D,63E and 63F that represent a portion of a larger column design 63. InFIG. 4, the column design 63 spells out the term “BREATH.” Similarly,edible substrates 64A, 64B, 64C, 64D, 64E and 64F each include arespective printed edible ink indicia 65A, 65B, 65C, 65D, 65E and 65Fthat represent a portion of a larger column design 65. The column design65 also spells out the term “BREATH.” Alternatively, edible substratecolumns 62 and 64 can have opposite or different configurations withrespect to each other. For example, column design 63 can define adownward pointing arrow while column design 65 defines an upward formingarrow. Further, a multiple substrate design can include a row designwhereby a row of edible substrates defines a respective design.

In an embodiment, printer 32 may be used to form package 70 thatincludes edible substrates 72 that, taken together, define one largedesign 74, as shown in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, each edible substrate72 represents a portion of a design 74 encompassing all the ediblesubstrates of the package 70. In FIG. 5, each edible substrate 72includes an individual ink indicia that contributes to a shaded boxdesign 74 encompassing all the edible substrates of the package 70.

In an embodiment, printer 32 may be used to form package 80 thatincludes an edible substrate 82 having a design on a first surface 82Ahaving uniform configuration with respect to a design on a secondsurface 82B, as shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, first surfacedesign 82A and second surface design 82B are configured such that eachsurface design represents a portion of a greater design spiral designencompassing the total of the two surfaces of edible substrate 82.

It should be understood that first surface design 82A and second surfacedesign 82B can have any contemplated uniform configuration including,but not limited to, an identical configuration, an oppositeconfiguration, a portion of a multiple edible substrate design, aportion of a design encompassing all the edible substrates of thepackaged product, or combinations thereof. Moreover, with respect toFIGS. 2-6, the package involved can have any contemplated number andorientation of edible substrates in the package such that each and/orevery edible substrate of the package can have uniform configurationwith respect to a second surface of that respective substrate, anadjacent substrate, and/or every substrate of the package.

In an embodiment, printer 32 (either alone or in conjunction withcontroller 100) may be used to prepare edible product 130 as shown inFIG. 7. Edible product 130 includes coated edible substrate 132. Thecoating of edible substrate 132 may be a hard or soft panned sugar orsugar-free coating. Pan coating entails applying successive layers ofsyrup to a center material, such as a confectionery or chewing gummaterial, and rotating and drying the material in a rotating pan. Thecoating may also be a wax or other hydrophobic material or protectivematerial alone or in combination with the pan coating as is commonlyknown in the art. In an embodiment, coated edible substrate 132 may be acoated chewing gum pellet. Alternatively, edible substrate 132 may be aconfectionery product, a coated edible substrate, an uncoated ediblesubstrate, an edible substrate having a curved surface contour, achewing gum stick, a chewing gum pellet, and combinations thereof.

Printer 32 may eject an ink component 133 onto the surface of coatededible substrate 132 to form ink indicia 134. Ink component 133 mayinclude ingredients such as adhesion enhancers, wax and/or othercomponents to promote adhesion to the surface of coated edible substrate132. In an embodiment, printer 32 selectively jets ink component 133onto discrete areas of coated edible substrate 132 to form ink indicia134 having a feature 136 of a random pattern. An organoleptic component138, which may or may not be an ingredient of ink component 133, may bedispensed by printer 32 onto the surface of coated edible substrate 132.Organoleptic component may also include ingredients such as adhesionenhancers, wax, and/or other components to promote and ensure adhesionof the organoleptic component to the surface of coated edible substrate132. In an embodiment, organoleptic component 138 may be disposed on orotherwise contact ink indicia 134. Organoleptic component may correspondor otherwise accentuate, enhance or highlight ink indicia 134. Forexample, ink indicia 134 may be a cool color such as blue or white andorganoleptic component 138 may be a cooling agent. Alternatively, inkindicia 134 may be a hot color, such as red, and organoleptic component138 may be a heating agent or a hot or spicy flavoring agent such ascinnamon.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the number ofcombinations between ink indicia, features and organoleptic componentsfor the individual edible pieces, is limited only by one's imagination.

In an embodiment, printer 32 may be used to form edible product 150 asshown in FIG. 8. Edible product 150 may include coated edible substrate152 upon which printer 32 may selectively dispense first ink component153 a and second ink component 153 b to form multicolor ink indicia 154.Ink indicia 154 may include a feature 156 that is a multicolored randompattern. Controller 100 may be used to cooperatively and selectively jetink components 153 a and 153 b so as to cover substantially the entiresurface of the coating. In an embodiment, feature 156 may be a randompattern of first ink composition 153 a and a random pattern of secondink composition 153 b, the ink compositions cooperatively ejected or inregistration with each other so as not to contact the same portion ofthe coating surface. Alternatively, controller 100 and printer 32 mayjet ink compositions 153 a, 153 b in an overlapping manner at discreteportions the coated surface to create select regions of a third color onthe surface of coated edible substrate 152.

A first organoleptic component 158 a may be selectively dispensed byprinter 32 onto regions where first ink composition 153 a is present. Asecond organoleptic component 158 b may be selectively dispensed uponsecond ink composition 153 b regions in a similar manner. In anembodiment, first organoleptic component 158 a may be an ingredient ofink composition 153 a and second organoleptic component 158 b may be aningredient of second ink composition 153 b. Accordingly, eachorganoleptic component may be simultaneously dispensed its respectiveink component.

In an embodiment, each organoleptic component corresponds to orotherwise accentuates the ink composition or feature with which it isassociated. For example, first ink composition 153 a may be a yellowcolor and first organoleptic component 158 a may be a flavoring agentcorresponding to yellow, such as a lemon flavoring agent, for example.Second ink composition 153 b may be a clean color, such as white colorand second organoleptic component 158 b may have a clean or cleaningproperty such as breath freshening agent or a teeth whitening agent toaccentuate the clean color. Edible product 150 provides a multiplecolored coated edible product having a distinct surface characteristicand appearance. The multiple colored ink indicia with random patternfeature and a plurality of organoleptic components all disposed on thecoated surface advantageously provides an attractive comestible productto consumers.

In an embodiment, a packaging apparatus 340 is provided as shown inFIGS. 9 and 10. Packaging apparatus 340 includes a printer 342, acarrier 344, and a package 346. Printer 342 may be any non-contactprinter as previously discussed herein. In an embodiment, printer 342may be any of the aforementioned ink-jet printers. Printer 342 may belocated near or proximate to carrier 344 at a print position AA.

Carrier 344 may be a continuous conveyor and/or a rotatable drum. In anembodiment, carrier 344 may be a continuous conveyer and include a belt348 in the form of a continuous loop, belt 348 extending around andbetween pulleys 350 and 352 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. One or bothpulleys 350, 352 may be powered to drive otherwise move belt 348continuously as indicated by arrow BB in FIG. 9. In an embodiment,carrier 344 may include pockets 354 in belt 348, pockets 354 adapted orotherwise configured to receive edible substrates 356 from feeder 358.Edible substrates 356 may be any edible substrate as previouslydescribed herein.

A feeder 358 may be located proximate to a portion of carrier 344. Inother words, feeder 358 may be in operative communication with carrier344 to feed, deliver, provide, or otherwise place edible substrates 356into pockets 354. Feeder 358 may include a hopper 360 adapted to receivea plurality of edible substrates 356 and an alignment device 362.Alignment device 362 may receive the edible substrates from hopper 360and place the edible substrates in the proper orientation, alignment,arrangement and configuration in order to fit in pockets 354. In anembodiment, alignment device 362 may include a vibration tray 364, abrush 366, or a combination thereof.

Carrier 344 may transport edible substrates 356 in the direction ofarrow BB to print position AA. At print position AA, printer 342 maynon-contact print an edible ink indicia on each of edible substrates356. Printing may be continuous (carrier 344 moving edible substrate 356to, through, and from print position AA as edible substrate receives theedible ink) or stationary (carrier 344 stops momentarily so that ediblesubstrate 356 is stationary or otherwise not moving when receiving theedible ink). The edible ink indicia may be any ink indicia as describedherein. In an embodiment, the ink indicia may cover 100% of the surfaceexposed to the printer 342, or from about 5% to about 95% of thesurface, or from about 40% to about 60% of the surface exposed to theprinter 342.

Once edible substrates have been printed upon, carrier 344 continues tomove in the direction of arrow BB to transport edible substrates 356 toa discharge position CC as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. In an embodiment, atransporter (such as a conveyor) transports package 346 to dischargeposition CC. In an embodiment, package 346 may be a package with aplurality of compartments 368, each compartment having a translucent orotherwise see-through panel as is commonly known in the art.Non-limiting examples of compartments include recesses, cups, blisters,or combinations thereof. At discharge position CC, pockets 354 move intocooperative alignment with package 346. In other words, at dischargeposition CC, each pocket 354 moves to a position directly above arespective compartment 368, each pocket 354 coming into registrationwith a respective compartment 368, edible substrate 356 moving fromcarrier 344 into a compartment 368 so that the ink indicia of eachedible substrate is visible through the panel of each respectivecompartment. Each compartment may receive one or more than one ediblesubstrate 356. In an embodiment the ink indicia of each edible substratemay be visible through a compartment panel.

In an embodiment, apparatus 340 may include a guide 370 as shown inFIGS. 9 and 10. Guide 370 may be located adjacent or proximate tocarrier 344 so as to maintain or hold edible substrates 356 in pockets354 until the edible substrates reach discharge position CC. One ofordinary skill in the art will appreciate that guide 370 prevents theedible substrates from falling out of pockets 354 due to gravity untileach edible substrate 356 reaches discharge position CC.

In an embodiment, apparatus 340 may include a second printer 372 locatedat a second print position DD. Second printer 372 may be any printer aspreviously described herein. In an embodiment, second printer 372 may bea non-contact printer such as an ink-jet printer. A transporter (such asa conveyor) may move package 346 from discharge position CC to secondprint position DD. At print position DD, second printer 372 may print asecond edible ink indicia 374 upon a second surface of the each ediblesubstrate 356 disposed in respective compartments. Second ink indiciamay be any ink indicia as described herein. Apparatus 340 may therebyproduce an edible substrate with ink indicia on each side thereof andwith the ink indicia of each edible substrate visible through thecompartment panel.

In an embodiment, second ink indicia 374 may cover 100% of the secondsurface of the edible substrate, or from about 5% to about 95% of thesecond surface, or from about 40% to about 60% of the second surface.Thus, apparatus 340 advantageously provides printed edible substrates356 having print (or ink indicia) on 100% of one or both sides of theedible substrate, or ink indicia covering from about 5% to about 95% ofthe surface area of one or both sides of the edible substrate, or inkindicia covering from about 40% to about 60% of the surface area of oneor both sides of the edible substrate. In a further embodiment, the inkindicia may be a pattern (predetermined or random) that extends over theentire outer surface of the edible substrate 356. A controller mayoperatively connect non-contact printer 342 and second printer 372 tocoordinate the printing of ink indicia 343, 374 on each side of theedible substrate 356. Consequently, apparatus 340 may produce acontinuous pattern around the entire outer surface (i.e., on both sides)of the edible substrate.

A sealing device (located downstream of second printer 372) may apply aseal to package 346 to enclose the edible substrates in their respectivecompartments. Package 346 may be further processed (cut to desired sizeand/or packaged in a sleeve) as is commonly known in the art to produceany of the packaged products as shown in FIGS. 14-18, for example.

In an embodiment, a packaging apparatus 400 is provided as shown inFIGS. 11-13. Apparatus 400 includes a non-contact printer 410 and acarrier which may be a rotatable drum 412. A package 414 may be locatedbelow drum 412. Printer 410 may be any non-contact printer as previouslydiscussed herein. In an embodiment, printer 410 may be any of theaforementioned ink-jet printers. Printer 410 may be positioned orotherwise located at a print position K as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

Rotatable drum 412 (or drum 412) is rotatable about axis L as shown inFIG. 9. Apparatus 400 may include a drive device (not shown) operativelyconnected to rotatable drum 412 in order to rotate the drum as iscommonly known in the art. Rotatable drum 412 may be adapted to supportone or more edible substrates 418 on an outer surface of the drum. In anembodiment, drum 412 includes a plurality of retaining members orpockets 416 that are located or otherwise disposed on or about the outercircumferential surface of the drum. Although FIGS. 11 and 13 showrotatable drum 412 with two rows of circumferential pockets 416, it isunderstood that the drum may be configured to have one row, two or morerows, five rows, ten or more rows or any number of circumferential rowstherebetween. Pockets 416 may be considered as a plurality of retainingmembers or cavities on the outer surface of rotatable drum 412. Pockets416 may be adapted or otherwise configured to hold or contain one ormore edible substrates 418. In an embodiment, each pocket 416 may beadapted to contain one edible substrate. Edible substrate 418 may be anyedible material or comestible as previously discussed herein. In anembodiment, edible substrate 418 may be a confectionery material. In afurther embodiment, edible substrate 418 may be a chewing gum. In yet afurther embodiment, edible substrate 418 may be a coated chewing gumpellet.

Rotatable drum 412 may be located near or otherwise proximate to printer410. Rotatable drum 412 rotates to move edible substrates 418 retainedin pockets 416 to print position K. At print position K, printer 410non-contact prints an edible ink onto a surface of each edible substrate418, thereby forming an edible ink indicia 420 on the edible substrate.The ink that forms ink indicia 420 may be any ink as previouslydiscussed herein. Apparatus 400 may be configured to stop rotatable drum412 during the printing of ink indicia 420. Alternatively, rotation ofdrum 412 may be continuous, or varied (increased or decreased rotationrate as desired) during the printing of ink indicia 420. The contactangle between the edible substrate and the non-contact printer may begreater than zero to 90° or any angle therebetween.

Ink indicia 420 may be any ink indicia as discussed herein. In anembodiment, ink indicia 420 may be a non-contact printed ink indicia. Anon-limiting example of a non-contact ink indicia may be an ink-jetindicia. The ink of a non-contact ink indicia may be uniformly dispersedthroughout the entire indicia. Non-contact ink indicia are therebyadvantageously applied to substrates having curved surfaces. Thenon-contact printer eject jets of ink onto a curved (or flat) substrate,the density of the ink for the resulting ink indicia being consistent oruniform regardless of the varying distances between the non-contactprinter and the substrate curved surface. Upon visual examination, anon-contact printed ink indicia may also exhibit printing pinstrips orsmall or very fine dots of ejected ink (i.e., 75-500 dpi)—acharacteristic absent in contact printed ink indicia, for example. In anembodiment, ink indicia 420 may be any word, image, color, symbol,object; alpha-numeric representation, letter, text, shape, symbol, logo,graphic representation, advertising indicia, or any combinations thereofas previously described. In an embodiment, ink indicia 420 may include afeature and an organoleptic component corresponding to the feature asherein discussed.

For example, as exemplified in FIGS. 14 and 18, ink indicia 420 mayinclude feature 422 that may be a word (i.e., “Cool!”) with a doublemeaning (a cool tasting flavor, or the consuming of the edible substrateis “cool,” or first rate, excellent, or otherwise socially acceptable),with the ink indicia including a cooling agent that corresponds to theword (i.e., the cooling agent provides a cool mouthfeel when theconsumer consumes the edible substrate, providing the consumer withconfidence, the feeling of being appealing to others, and sociallyacceptable—the aura of being “cool.”)

In an embodiment, the ink used to form ink indicia 420 may be afast-drying ink as is commonly known in the art. Upon contact of the inkwith the surface of the edible substrate, ink indicia 420 may dry inabout 0.01 seconds to about 20 seconds or in about 1 second to about 10seconds or any time value therebetween. In an embodiment, ink indicia420 may dry in less than one second. In a further embodiment, rotatabledrum 412 may place edible substrate 418 into a respective compartment426 within about 0.01 seconds to about 60 seconds after the printing.

Located below rotatable drum 412 is a package. The package may be anysuitable package having one or more compartments for holding, storing orotherwise containing one or more edible substrates 418 as is commonlyknown in the art. In an embodiment, the package may be a package 414(also known as a compartment pack, blister pack or a push-through pack)as shown in FIGS. 14-18. Package 414 may include a base portion 424, andone or more compartments 426, and a seal 428 (FIG. 17). Non-limitingexamples of compartments may include recesses, cups, or compartments.Non-limiting examples of suitable materials for base portion 424 mayinclude polymeric material and polymeric composite. Non-limitingexamples of suitable materials for seal 428 may be include a polymericmaterial, a polymeric composite, a metal foil, aluminum foil, metallizedfilm, polyethylene, paper, polycoated paperboard, or any other materialproviding suitable barrier. Compartments 426 may be thermoformed byheating base portion 424 and forming the compartments with a vacuumapparatus as is commonly known in the art. Each compartment 426 mayinclude a panel 430. In an embodiment, each compartment and/or panel maybe transparent, translucent, or otherwise see-through, permitting theconsumer to view edible substrate 418 through panel 430. It isunderstood that panel 430 may be considered a front panel as seal 428may form the rear or back panel of the package as is commonly known inthe art.

Each compartment 426 may contain one or more individual comestibleitems. Manually pressing the compartment and pushing the tablet/pelletthrough the seal may remove the tablet or pellet comestible. Packages ofthe present disclosure are typically slim, lightweight and thecompartments may be adapted to hold various size tablets orpellet-shaped comestible objects.

In an embodiment, a transporter (not shown), such as a conveyor, moves acontinuous package in a direction lateral to the drum as indicated byarrow P and also in a contrary motion to drum rotation. This enablespackage 414 to continuously receive edible substrates 418 intocompartment 426 as the compartments move past rotatable drum 412.Package 414 may be cut and shaped into discrete, individual packagesdownstream of rotatable drum 412 as will be described below.

Once ink indicia 420 is imprinted upon edible substrate 418, rotatabledrum 412 rotates in the direction of arrow M to deliver or otherwisetransport edible substrates 418 to a discharge position N, position Nbeing proximate to and above package 414. As rotation of drum 412proceeds, gravity pulls edible substrate 418 from pocket 416. Placementof package 414 may be coordinated with the position of drum 412 such,that when edible substrate 418 falls or otherwise drops from retainingmember 416, a compartment 426 is positioned to receive or immediatelyreceive the falling edible substrate. In an embodiment, package 414 androtatable drum 412 may be coordinately aligned with each other so thatedible substrate 418 may be placed in compartment 426 with ink indicia420 visible through panel 430. In other words, at discharge position N,edible substrate 418 falls from pocket 416 into compartment 426 so thatink indicia 420 contacts the inner surface of panel 430. Moving betweenprint position K and discharge position N, rotatable drum 412 therebyinverts or otherwise flips the edible substrates 418 into respectivecompartments 426 to ensure ink indicia 420 is visible through panel 430.Thus, the surface upon which the ink indicia is printed is inverted orflipped when placed into the compartment. By printing the ink indiciaonto the edible substrate immediately prior to placing the ediblesubstrate in the package, apparatus 400 advantageously reduces oreliminates smudging of the ink indicia that typically occurs fromhandling or substrates rubbing together.

In an embodiment, each compartment 426 of package 414 may contain atleast one edible substrate 418 with the ink indicia of each ediblesubstrate visible through each respective panel 430 as shown in FIG. 14.In a further embodiment, each compartment 426 may contain more than oneedible substrate, with the ink indicia for each edible substrate in thecompartment visible or otherwise viewable through the panel of thecompartment. In yet a further embodiment, each compartment 426 may holdtwo edible substrates 418, with ink indicia 420 of each edible substratevisible through panel 430 of the respective compartment 426, as shown inFIG. 15.

In a further embodiment, ink indicia 420 may be dry or completely drywhen edible substrate 418 lands or otherwise arrives in compartment 426.This ensures that the ink indicia remains intact and adheres to theedible substrate surface while edible substrate 418 remains in thecompartment. In other words, the ink dries before edible substrate 418is discharged into compartment 426 such that none or substantially noneof ink indicia 420 adheres to the inner surface of panel 430.

FIG. 12 illustrates an enlarged fragmentary view of an embodimentwherein each pocket 416 includes an orifice 432. Orifice 432 may be inoperative communication with a retainer such as a pressurizer (notshown) as is commonly known in the art. The pressurizer may or may notbe a component of rotatable drum 412. The pressurizer may provide anegative pressure (i.e., a vacuum) to secure or retain edible substrate418 in retaining member 416. This advantageously maintains ediblesubstrate 418 in a stationary or otherwise motionless, non-moving statewhen ink indicia 420 is applied to the edible substrate surface,yielding a high resolution, well-defined ink indicia.

The negative pressure provided through orifice 432 may alsoadvantageously enable retention of edible substrate 418 within pocket416 for a longer period through the rotation cycle of rotatable drum412. In other words, orifice 432 permits pocket 416 to hold ediblesubstrate 418 beyond the point in which gravity would cause the ediblesubstrate 418 to fall from rotatable drum 412. When pocket 416 islocated directly above (or nearly directly above or substantiallydirectly above) compartment 426 (as shown in FIG. 12), the negativepressure from the pressurizer imparted upon edible substrate 418 throughorifice 432 may be terminated, permitting edible substrate 418 to fallor drop into compartment 426, with ink indicia 420 contacting the innersurface of panel 430. The short distance traveled by edible substrate418 between retaining member 416 the compartment 426 ensures that eachedible substrate arrives in a respective compartment with ink indicia420 face down, ink indicia 420 contacting the inner surface of panel430. This correspondingly ensures that the ink indicia is visible orotherwise viewable through panel 430. In a further embodiment, thepressurizer may provide a positive pressure to push or otherwise ejectedible substrate 418 from pocket 416 and into compartment 426 asindicated by arrow O in FIG. 12. Pressurizer may impart pressure by wayof any fluid (liquid or gas) as is commonly known in the art.Non-limiting examples of suitable fluids for use with the pressurizerinclude air, nitrogen, a noble gas, and carbon dioxide, for example.

In an embodiment, apparatus 400 may include a feeder 434 as shown inFIG. 13. Feeder 434 may be located next to or otherwise proximate torotatable drum 412 and may include one or more channels 436 throughwhich edible substrates 418 may be delivered to respective pockets 416.Feeder 434 may be located, disposed or otherwise positioned anywherealong the outer circumference of rotatable drum 412 in order to deliverone or more edible substrates 418 to a load position R. Load position Rmay accordingly be located at any point on the circumference ofrotatable drum 412. At load position R, edible substrates 418 move fromchannels 436 into respective pockets 416. The pressurizer may or may notdeliver a negative pressure through orifices 432 in order to load theedible substrates into respective pockets 416. Feeder 434 may be inoperative communication with a source (not shown) of edible substrates,the source providing edible substrates into channels 436. Non-limitingexamples of suitable edible substrate sources include a bin, a hopper,or the like as is commonly known in the art.

In an embodiment, edible substrates 418 may be fed or delivered tocompartments 426 upstream of drum 412 or otherwise prior to eachcompartment arriving proximate to rotatable drum 412 as shown in FIG.11. The placement of edible substrates into compartments 426 may beaccomplished by any suitable manner as is commonly known in the art. Atransporter (such as a conveyor) may move edible substrate-containingcompartments 426 to a load position S as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Atload position S, the pressurizer may deliver a negative pressure throughorifice 432, the negative pressure having sufficient strength to liftedible substrate 418 from compartment 426 into a respective retainingmember 416 as shown by arrow T in FIG. 12. Rotatable drum 412 andpackage 414 may be configured and arranged such that pockets 416 maycontinuously align with or may otherwise be cooperatively oriented withcompartments 426 as the transporter continuously moves ediblesubstrate-containing compartments 426 to load position S. With eachpocket 416 loaded with an edible substrate 418, rotatable drum 412 mayrotate to move the edible substrate to print position K and to dischargeposition N. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that loadposition S is upstream of discharge position N.

In this embodiment, package 414 may serve or otherwise function as afeeder. After being loaded into retaining members 416 and being printedupon at print position K, rotatable drum 412 may move edible substrates418 to discharge position N. At discharge position N, edible substrates418 may be placed into compartments 426 as previously discussed. Thecompartment into which each respective edible substrate may be placed atdischarge position N may or may not be the same compartment that heldthe edible substrate at load position S.

In an embodiment, a second printer 438 may be located at a second printposition U as shown in FIG. 11. Second printer 438 may print a secondedible ink indicia 440 onto edible substrate 418. Non-contact printer410 and second printer 438 may be the same or different. Second printer438 may be a contact printer or a non-contact printer. In an embodiment,second printer 438 may be a non-contact printer such as any ink-jetprinter as discussed herein. Second ink indicia 440 may be any inkindicia as previously discussed herein. Thus, ink indicia 440 mayinclude a feature and/or an organoleptic component. Ink indicia 420 andsecond ink indicia 440 may be the same or different.

Second printer 438 may be located anywhere along apparatus 400 to printink indicia 440 (upstream of rotatable drum 412, proximate to rotatabledrum 412, downstream of rotatable drum 412) onto any surface of ediblesubstrate 418 as desired. For example, second printer 438 may be locatedupstream of rotatable drum 412 to print ink indicia 440 on one side ofthe edible substrate with ink indicia 420 printed on another side of theedible substrate. Ink indicia 420 and 440 may be located on the sameside of edible substrate 418. Ink indicia may overlap each other—eitherfully or partially. Alternatively, ink indicia 420 and 440 may belocated on different sides of edible substrate 418.

In an embodiment, second printer 438 may be located downstream ofrotatable drum 412 to print second ink indicia 440 on a different sidethan ink indicia 420 as shown in FIG. 11. Thus, ink indicia 440 may beprinted on an opposing side of edible substrate 418 with respect to theside upon which ink indicia 420 is printed. In a further embodiment,second ink indicia 440 may be the same as ink indicia 420 (i.e., theword “Cool!”). The ink from which ink indicia 440 is formed may or maynot be the same ink used to form ink indicia 420. In an embodiment, inkindicia 440 may be a fast-drying ink as previously discussed. Inkindicia 440 may be proximate to or otherwise contact the inner surfaceof seal 428 when package 414 is sealed or otherwise closed. In anembodiment, none or substantially none of ink indicia 440 adheres to theinner surface of seal 428. Thus, ink indicia 440 may be proximate toseal 428, ink indicia 420 being distal to seal 428. Seal 428 may or maynot be transparent. In an embodiment, seal 428 may be transparentpermitting second ink indicia 440 to be viewed therethrough.

In an embodiment, non-contact printer 410 may be operatively connectedto second printer 438. For example, a controller 442 may operativelyconnect non-contact printer 410 and second printer 438. Controller 442may coordinate the print parameters for the non-contact printer 410 andsecond printer 438 to vary the properties of ink indicia 420, 440 asdesired and as is commonly known in the art. In an embodiment,controller 442 may coordinate non-contact printer 410 and second printer438 to print a pattern 444 on the outer surface of edible substrate 418as shown in FIG. 16. Pattern 444 may be the combination of ink indicia420 on a first side of edible substrate 418 and ink indicia 440 on asecond side of edible substrate 418. Pattern 444 may be random orpredetermined as desired. Controller 442 may coordinate the printing ofnon-contact printer 410 and second printer 438 so that second inkindicia 440 blends smoothly into or with the ends or edges of inkindicia 420. Thus, ink indicia 420 on a first side of the ediblesubstrate may be aligned with or otherwise coordinated with ink indicia440 located on a second side of the ink indicia. In other words,controller 442 may coordinate the printing to provide a continuous orseamless pattern 444 of edible ink indicia about the outer surface ofedible substrate 418.

In an embodiment, package 414 may be cut into discrete packets 446 witha cutting device as is commonly known in the art and shown in FIGS. 17and 18. Packet 446 may contain any number of comestible containingcompartments 426 as desired. In an embodiment, packet 446 contains fromabout 4 to about 20 compartments, or about 8 to about 12 compartments,or any number of compartments therebetween. In an embodiment, eachcompartment 426 contains at least one edible substrate 418 with anedible ink indicia 420. The ink indicia of each edible substrate may bevisible or otherwise viewable through panel 430 of each respectivecompartment 426. Seal 428 may be applied to package 414 or to packet 446to enclose edible substrates 418 in respective compartments 426 as iscommonly known in the art. Packet 446 may then be placed into a sleeve448, sleeve 448 providing protection to packet 446 and a medium uponwhich advertising 450 may be placed as is commonly known in the art.

In an embodiment, a packaging apparatus 500 is provided as shown inFIGS. 19-21. Packaging apparatus 500 includes a feeder 502, a carrier504, a detector 506, and a controller 508. Carrier 504 may be anycontinuous carrier or conveyor as described herein. Carrier 504 mayinclude a belt 510 in the form of a continuous loop, belt 510 extendingaround and between pulleys 512 and 514. Belt 510 may include a pluralityof pockets 516 configured or otherwise adapted to receive ediblesubstrates 518 therein.

Feeder 502, in operative communication with carrier 504, receives aplurality of edible substrates 518 and delivers an edible substrate toeach pocket 516 as carrier 504 continuously moves thereunder. In anembodiment, feeder 502 may include a hopper 520 and an alignment device522. Alignment device 522 may include a vibration tray 524, a brush 526or a combination thereof. Alignment device may properly align,configure, and/or place each edible substrate in a respective pocket 516as previously discussed.

In an embodiment, each edible substrate 518 may have more than one side,each edible substrate having an ink indicia 528 on a single side. Inother words, the edible substrates may have been subjected to a printingprocedure prior to being received by feeder 502. The ink indicia may beany ink indicia as described herein. In an embodiment, the ink indiciamay be an ink-jet indicia. In an embodiment, each edible substrate mayhave two sides. Non-limiting examples of edible substrates having twosides include edible substrates in stick form and/or edible substratesin pellet form. Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciatethat the edible substrates may be delivered to pockets 516 in a numberof ways. For example, feeder 502 (and/or alignment device 522) maydeliver an edible substrate so that ink indicia 528 is present orotherwise disposed on an exposed surface of the edible substrate whenthe edible substrate is in a pocket 516. Alternatively, the ediblesubstrate may end up in pocket 516 with the ink indicia facing downward,in contact with the surface of pocket 516. When this occurs, the inkindicia is on an unexposed surface of the edible substrate upon deliveryof the edible substrate into a pocket. Thus, an edible substrate is amisoriented edible substrate when it is delivered to a pocket with theink indicia unexposed. In other words, a misoriented edible substrate isan edible substrate disposed in a pocket such that the ink indicia is incontact with the pocket surface or the ink indicia is otherwise notvisible when the edible substrate is in the pocket. A misoriented ediblesubstrate 530 and a properly oriented edible substrate 531 with inkindicia 528 on the exposed substrate surface are shown in FIG. 28.

Pulleys 512, 514 continuously move pockets 516 containing an ediblesubstrate therein away from feeder 502 as shown by direction arrows V.Detector 506 may be located proximate to carrier 504, downstream offeeder 502. Detector 506 may be any detector adapted to or otherwisecapable of detecting or sensing the absence and/or presence of inkindicia 528 on the exposed surface of edible substrate 518. In otherwords, detector 506 may be adapted and/or configured to detect amisoriented edible substrate 530 as pockets 516 move or otherwise passby the detector.

In an embodiment, the edible substrate 518 may have a first side of afirst color and a second side of a second color. A non-limiting exampleof such an edible substrate may include a pressed tablet confectioncomposed of two different confections, each confection having adifferent color. Detector 506 may be configured or otherwise adapted todetect the presence or absence of either color.

Controller 508 may be placed in operative communication with detector506. In addition, controller 508 may also be placed in operativecommunication with an extractor 532. When detector 506 detects thepresence of a misoriented edible substrate 530 (or the presence of apredetermined color), the detector sends a signal to controller 508.Controller 506 then directs extractor 532 to remove the misorientededible substrate from the pocket.

Carrier 504 may then transport the properly oriented edible substrates531 remaining in pockets 516 to a discharge position W. At dischargeposition W, pockets 516 are inverted and also placed in cooperativeregistration with respective compartments 542 of a package 544 so thateach properly oriented edible substrate 531 moves from the carrier andinto a respective compartment and the ink indicia is visible through thecompartment panel as previously discussed.

Extractor 532 may be any device adapted to, configured, and/or capableof removing an edible substrate from a pocket 516. Non-limiting examplesof suitable extractors include a suction device, a movable gate or arm,an ejection device, or the like. In an embodiment, extractor 532 mayinclude an ejection device 534 as shown in FIGS. 19-21. It is understoodthat when the extractor is an ejection device, belt 510 may be made of aresilient, flexible material such as natural or synthetic rubber orelastomer. Ejection device 534 may include a finger 536 and a drivemechanism 538 in operative communication with controller 508. Upondirection of controller 508, drive mechanism 538 drives or otherwisepropels finger 536 upward (as indicated by direction arrow X in FIGS. 20and 21), finger 536 contacting the underside of pocket 516 to push,eject, remove, force, or otherwise thrust misoriented edible substrate530 from the pocket. Once misoriented edible substrate 530 has vacatedpocket 516, finger 536 may return to a non-extended position, withpocket 516 returning to its original shape and/or configuration.

In an embodiment, the removed misoriented edible substrate 530 may bereceived by a recycle device 540. Recycle device 540 may be any devicecapable of receiving or otherwise collecting the misoriented ediblesubstrates removed from carrier 504. Non-limiting examples of suitablerecycle devices include a container, a hopper, a tray, a ramp, a slide,a plate, a bin, and combinations thereof. In an embodiment, thecollected misoriented edible substrates may be returned to feeder 502for further processing.

In an embodiment, recycle device 540 may include a ramp that deliversmisoriented edible substrate 530 to a second discharge position Y.Second discharge position Y may be downstream of discharge position W.Recycle device 540 may place misoriented edible substrate 530 directlyover package 544. It is understood that package 544 may be the samepackage that received edible substrates from carrier 504 at dischargeposition W. Thus, as movement of package 540 places an empty compartmentunder misoriented edible substrate 530 at second discharge position Y,misoriented edible substrate 530 may move into the empty compartment sothat the ink indicia contacts the inner surface of the compartmentpanel. It is noted that at second discharge position Y, misorientededible substrate 530 is so arranged and positioned to place ink indicia528 (i.e., ink indicia facing downward) in contact with the innersurface of the compartment panel. Consequently, directly downstream ofsecond discharge position Y, each compartment 542 contains an ediblesubstrate, the ink indicia of each edible substrate visible through thecompartment panel. In other words, directly downstream of seconddischarge position Y, it is not possible to distinguish betweenmisoriented edible substrates and properly oriented edible substrates inthe compartments 542. Apparatus 500 thereby produces a package with anedible substrate in each compartment 542, each edible substrate havingan ink indicia visible through the compartment panel.

In an embodiment, apparatus 500 may include a dispensing device (notshown) at second discharge position Y to dispense the removed (i.e.,misoriented edible substrates) edible substrates into the compartments542 of package 544 as is commonly known in the art. Consequently,misoriented edible substrates 530 may be placed into compartments 542 byway of gravity (as described above) or mechanically by way of thedispensing device.

In an embodiment, apparatus 500 may include a printer 546 locateddownstream of second discharge position Y. Printer 546 may be anyprinter as described herein. Printer 546 may print a second ink indicia548 on a second side of each edible substrate 518. Apparatus 500 mayinclude a sealing device to place a seal on package 544 as discussedherein to produce any packaged product as shown in FIGS. 14-18, forexample.

In an embodiment, a packaging apparatus 600 is provided as shown inFIGS. 22-24. Packaging apparatus 600 may or may not be a component ofapparatus 10. Packaging apparatus 600 includes a feeder 602, a carriersuch as a rotatable drum 604, a detector 606, a controller 608, and aretainer 610. Rotatable drum 604 has an outer circumferential surfacewith a plurality of pockets 612 disposed thereon. Feeder 602 isproximate to and in operative communication with rotatable drum 604.Feeder 602 receives a plurality of edible substrates 614 andcontinuously delivers an edible substrate 614 to each pocket 612.Rotatable drum 604 rotates to continuously provide empty pockets tofeeder 602 as shown in FIG. 22. Each pocket 612 is adapted or otherwiseshaped or configured to receive an edible substrate therein.

In an embodiment, feeder 602 may include a hopper 616 and an alignmentdevice 618. Alignment device 618 may include a vibration tray 620, abrush 622 or a combination thereof. Alignment device may properly align,configure, and/or place each edible substrate in a respective pocket612.

In an embodiment, each edible substrate 614 may have more than one side,each edible substrate having an ink indicia 624 on a single side. Inother words, the edible substrates may have been subjected to a printingprocedure prior to being received by feeder 602. The ink indicia and/oredible substrate may be any as described herein. Edible substrates 614are delivered into the pockets 612 with the ink indicia exposed or withthe ink indicia unexposed or not visible as previously discussed. Inother words, a misoriented edible substrate 626 does not have the inkindicia exposed, the ink indicia being in contact with the pocketsurface. Thus, the edible substrates in the pockets may be a randomarray of properly oriented edible substrates and misoriented ediblesubstrates 626.

Rotatable drum 604 rotates in the direction of arrow Z to move ediblesubstrates 614 in each pocket 612 to a discharge position EE. Proximateto the outer circumferential surface of rotatable drum 604 is detector606. Detector 606 is downstream of feeder 602 and upstream of dischargeposition EE as shown in FIG. 22. Detector 606 may be any device capableof detecting the presence and/or absence of ink indicia 624 on theexposed surface of each edible substrate as the edible substrates passby the detector as is commonly known in the art. When detector 606detects the presence of a misoriented edible substrate in a pocket, thedetector 606 sends a signal to controller 608. Controller 608 is inoperative communication with detector 606, optionally rotatable drum 604and retainer 610. Controller 608 has logic capable of identifying thepocket wherein the misoriented edible substrate lays. Controller 608also has suitable logic to track or otherwise monitor the incrementalmovement of each pocket as rotatable drum moves each pocket to dischargeposition EE.

When misoriented edible substrate 626 arrives at discharge position EE,controller 608 may direct retainer 610 to retain misoriented ediblesubstrate 626 within pocket 612 as shown in FIG. 23. Retainer 610 may beany device capable or otherwise adapted or configured to selectivelyretain edible substrates within respective pockets. In other words,retainer 610 retains an edible substrate within a pocket at thedirection of controller 608. In an embodiment, retainer 610 may be apressurizer that may selectively apply a positive pressure (blowing orejecting pressure) or a negative pressure (i.e., suction) through anorifice 628 present in pocket 612. A non-limiting example of a suitableretainer may include a vacuum/reverse vacuum device. As seen in FIG. 23,retainer 610 retains, holds, or otherwise maintains misoriented ediblesubstrate 626 within pocket 612 when the pocket is at discharge positionEE. This is accomplished by retainer 610 applying a negative pressure,as indicated by arrow FF, through orifice 628.

In an embodiment, a transporter, such as a conveyor, may transport ordeliver a package, such as a package 630 to discharge position EE. Asshown in FIG. 23, pockets 612 come into registration with respectivecompartments 632, each compartment having a see-through panel 634 aspreviously discussed. FIG. 22 shows package 630 with two tracks ofcompartments. The skilled artisan will appreciate that package mayinclude from 1 compartment track to 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 compartment tracks,or compartment tracks, or more than 10 compartment tracks, or any numberof compartment tracks therebetween. It is understood that rotatable drum604 will have a number of pocket tracks that corresponds to the numberof compartment tracks. Activation of retainer 610 by controller 608 maybe selective so that edible substrates 614 (i.e., non-misoriented ediblesubstrates) move or otherwise fall freely from each pocket 612 into arespective compartment 632 at discharge position EE. Consequently,edible substrates 614 move into respective compartments so that inkindicia 624 is visible through compartment panel 634. In an embodiment,controller 608 may direct retainer 610 to apply a positive pressure, asindicated by arrow GG in FIG. 23, through orifice 628 in order to hastenthe placement of edible substrate 614 into compartment 632.

In an embodiment, apparatus 600 may include a sensor 636 located atdischarge position EE and proximate to package 630 as shown in FIGS. 22and 23. Sensor 636 may be any device capable of, adapted to, orotherwise configured to detect the presence and/or absence of an ediblesubstrate in compartment 632. Sensor 636 may be in operativecommunication with controller 608, controller 608 also in operativecommunication with a transporter, detector 606, and optionally withrotatable drum 604. When sensor 636 detects that an edible substrate hasnot been delivered to a compartment, the sensor sends a signal tocontroller 608. Controller 608 then directs the transporter to stop,thereby maintaining the empty compartment at discharge position EE.Rotatable drum 604 continues to rotate and moves another pocketcontaining an edible substrate to discharge position EE. Detector 606and controller 608 operate as previously discussed to deliver only aproperly oriented edible substrate into the empty compartment. When aproperly oriented edible substrate is delivered to the waiting and emptycompartment, sensor 636 detects the presence of the edible substrate inthe compartment. Sensor 636 subsequently sends a signal to controller608 indicating the presence of edible substrate 614 in compartment 632.Controller 608 directs transporter to activate and move package 630 inthe direction indicated by arrow HH in FIG. 22. This moves additionalempty compartments into registration with pockets 612 to continue thepackaging process. Thus, package 630 does not advance until eachcompartment receives an edible substrate at discharge position EE. Inother words, sensor 636 ensures that every compartment 632 leavingdischarge position EE contains an edible substrate.

In an embodiment, rotatable drum 604 is rotatable or otherwise movableto a recycle position (or a second discharge position) II as shown inFIGS. 22 and 24. At recycle position II, controller 608 directs retainer610 to release or otherwise eject misoriented edible substrate 626 intoa recycle device 638.

It is understood that properly oriented edible substrates may alsoarrive at recycle position. This may occur when sensor 636 detects thepresence of an edible substrate in a compartment in a first compartmenttrack and detects the absence of an edible substrate in a secondcompartment in a second compartment track. Such an event would halt themovement of the package until the empty compartment is filled. Thus, itmay be necessary to increment the movement of rotatable drum 604 inorder to fill an empty compartment (due to retention of a misorientededible substrate), the drum increment delivering an edible substrate tothe empty compartment in the first compartment track. The drum incrementmay require the retention of a properly oriented edible substrate alongthe second compartment track. This may be the case as the secondcompartment in the second compartment track may have been properlyfilled with an edible substrate upon registration with an initialpocket. Controller 608 may be provided or otherwise equipped withsuitable logic to recognize the orientation of each edible substrate ineach pocket and direct retainer 610 for retention or release of theedible substrate at recycle position II as necessary.

Recycle device 638 may be any device adapted or otherwise configure toreceive misoriented edible substrate 626 from the rotatable drum.Non-limiting examples of suitable recycle devices include a container, abin, a hopper, a tray, a ramp, a slide, and any combination thereof.Recycle device 638 may be equipped and/or configured to automaticallyreturn misoriented edible substrates to feeder 602. Alternatively,recycle device 638 may be a static component such as a receptacle or thelike requiring manual delivery of the collected misoriented ediblesubstrates by the receptacle back to feeder 602.

In an embodiment, apparatus 600 may include a printer 640 proximate topackage 630 and downstream of discharge position EE as shown in FIG. 22.Printer may print a second ink indicia 642 on a second surface of eachedible substrate 614, each edible substrate disposed or otherwiselocated in a respective compartment 632. Apparatus 600 may include asealing device to place a seal on package 630. Thus, apparatus 600 mayproduce any packaged product as shown in FIGS. 14-18 and describedherein.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is thereforeintended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appendedclaims.

1. An apparatus comprising: a non-contact printer so constructed andarranged to apply an edible ink indicia to an edible substrate, theprinter located at a print position; a carrier having a plurality ofpockets, each pocket constructed to transport the edible substrate froma package to the printer and to a discharge position; and a transporterfor moving the package having a plurality of package compartments from aload position to the discharge position, wherein the edible substratesare transferred from the package compartment to respective pockets ofthe carrier at the load position, such that the carrier trans sorts theedible substrate to the printer for printing of an indicia and to thedischarge position, the edible substrates moving from the carrierpockets to the package compartments at the discharge position so thatthe printed ink indicia is visible through at least a portion of a panelof the package.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ink indicia ofan edible substrate is visible through a panel of each compartment. 3.The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a feeder in operativecommunication with the carrier, the feeder delivering an ediblesubstrate to each pocket.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the feederfurther comprises an alignment device selected from the group consistingof a vibration tray, a brush, and combinations thereof.
 5. The apparatusof claim 1 further comprising a guide proximate to the carrier, theguide maintaining the edible substrates in the pockets until the ediblesubstrates reach the discharge position.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of acontinuous conveyor and a rotatable drum.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1wherein the edible substrate is selected from the group consisting of aconfectionery product, a center-filled product, coated edible substrate,an uncoated edible substrate, an edible substrate having a curvedsurface contour, and combinations thereof.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1wherein each carrier pocket further comprises an orifice in operativecommunication with a pressurizer, the pressurizer device applying apositive pressure to eject the edible substrate from the pocket when theedible substrate is at the discharge position.
 9. The apparatus of claim1 wherein each carrier pocket further comprises an orifice in operativecommunication with a retainer, the retainer applying a negative pressureto lift the edible substrates from the compartments and into respectivepockets.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a secondprinter so constructed and arranged to apply a second edible ink indiciato the edible substrate, the second printer located at a second printposition.